执一念
Holding onto a Thought
Lyrics: Jing Ta
Music: Guan Dazhou, Yu Wei
Singer: Huang Ling
At it's most basic yet broad definition, "念" translates to "thought". However, depending upon how the word is used and combined, it can have a range of usages and meanings. Some generalizations within one perspective: There are 3 basic divisions: celestial, mortal, and underworld. Through karma, cultivation, choices, and actions, it is possible for beings to ascend or descend. During cultivation, you are often told to concentrate and to shed away any extraneous 念 thoughts ("jaap nim"). Ghosts and lost souls exist because they are unable to let go of their fixations or stubbornness ("jup nim"). The longer the fixation, the greater the risk of becoming a demon or leading to destruction. At the other end of the spectrum, celestials strive to attain balance and to love all beings equally. Often, they either can't, won't, or don't know how to love that way. Therefore, they often don't have the same emotions, attachment, and desires that mortals or lesser beings might have. Those characteristics can keep beings from attaining higher cultivation, but also makes mortals unique and connected to their humanity. So, "念" can carry a sense of longing, sentimentality, selectiveness, determination, devotion, compassion, stubbornness, contemplation, tenderness, and affection.
无边夜色 靠近
wú biān yè sè kào jìn
The boundless night is nearing
浓墨染过 身影
nóng mò rǎn guò shēn yǐng
Thick ink stains the silhouette
无数风声 低语
wú shù fēng shēng dī yǔ
Countless whispers of the wind
听不清 悬而未决的命运
tīng bù qīng xuán ér wèi jué de mìng yùn
Unable to hear clearly, the fate that is suspended and not yet decided
流言聚散 如云
liú yán jù sàn rú yún
Rumors gather and disperse like clouds
失去的都已是曾经
shī qù de dōu yǐ shì céng jīng
What is lost is already in the past
暗月蒙住眼睛
àn yuè méng zhù yǎn jīng
The dark moon blindfolds the eyes
明天该往何处找寻
míng tiān gāi wǎng hé chù zhǎo xún
Where should I search tomorrow?
一念之间
yí niàn zhī jiān
In an instant
Literal: Between one thought
或明或暗 变幻万千
huò míng huòàn biàn huàn wàn qiān
Could be light, could be dark; they are ever-changing
or apparent, vague
回首见宿命上演
huí shǒu jiàn sù mìng shàng yǎn
Looking back, fate takes the stage
孑然一身 唯有执念
jié rán yì shēn wéi yǒu zhí niàn
Alone all over, can only resort to holding onto a stubborn thought/firm belief
'alone all over' reminds you of the 'crow feathers all over body'
想去拨开无尽长夜
xiǎng qù bō kāi wú jìn cháng yè
I want to brush away the endless, long night
若成全 不惧焚身如焰 明灭如烟
ruò chéng quán bù jù fén shēn rú yàn míng miè rú yān
If allowed, wouldn't fear burning like a flame, extinguishing like smoke
一念
yí niàn
One thought
记起长月之下的初见
jì qǐ cháng yuè zhī xià de chū jiàn
I remember the long moon and the first sighting underneath it
初 means 'first time', often used in 'first love'
大梦经年 三生未歇
dà mèng jīng nián sān shēng wèi xiē
Big dream passed through the years, three lives not yet rested
注定 若想改写诀别的预言
zhù dìng ruò xiǎng gǎi xiě jué bié de yù yán
Destined! If wanting to rewrite the farewell's prophecy
情结千千 尽生心间
qíng jié qiān qiān jìn shēng xīn jiān
Thousands of love knots, living as much as possible within the heart's space
流言聚散 如云
liú yán jù sàn rú yún
Rumors gather and disperse like clouds
失去的都已是曾经
shī qù de dōu yǐ shì céng jīng
What's lost is already in the past
暗月蒙住眼睛
àn yuè méng zhù yǎn jīng
The dark moon blindfolds the eyes
明天该往何处找寻
míng tiān gāi wǎng hé chù zhǎo xún
Where should I search tomorrow?
一念之间
yí niàn zhī jiān
In an instant
或明或暗 变幻万千
huò míng huò àn biàn huàn wàn qiān
Could be light, could be dark; they are ever-changing
回首见宿命上演
huí shǒu jiàn sù mìng shàng yǎn
Looking back, fate takes the stage
孑然一身 唯有执念
jié rán yì shēn wéi yǒu zhí niàn
Alone all over, can only resort to holding onto a stubborn thought/firm belief
想去拨开无尽长夜
xiǎng qù bō kāi wú jìn cháng yè
I want to brush away the endless, long night
若成全 不惧焚身如焰 明灭如烟
ruò chéng quán bù jù fén shēn rú yàn míng miè rú yā
If allowed, wouldn't fear burning like a flame, extinguishing like smoke
一念
yí niàn
One thought
记起长月之下的初见
jì qǐ cháng yuè zhī xià de chū jiàn
I remember the long moon and the first sighting underneath it
大梦经年 三生未歇
dà mèng jīng nián sān shēng wèi xiē
Big dream passed through the years, three lives not yet rested
注定 若想改写诀别的预言
zhù dìng ruò xiǎng gǎi xiě jué bié de yù yán
Destined! If wanting to rewrite the farewell's prophecy
情结千千 尽生心间
qíng jié qiān qiān jìn shēng xīn jiān
Thousands of love knots, living as much as possible within the heart's space
一念
yí niàn
One thought
记起旧梦红尘有过约
jì qǐ jiù mèng hóng chén yǒu guò yuē
I remember the long moon and the first sighting underneath it
情深缘浅 尽系眉尖
qíng shēn yuán qiǎn jìn xì méi jiān
The emotions are deep, the edge/fate/cause is shallow, ending at the tip of brows
注定 若情丝红线无人幸免
zhù dìng ruò qīng sī hóng xiàn wú rén xìng miǎn
Destined! If there is love thread and red string, then no one will be spared
不负当年 情动心悬
bú fù dāng nián qíng dòng xīn xuán
It does not measure to the past, emotions stirred and heart suspended
Literal: Didn't let [us] down back then, emotions stirred and heart suspended
那一眼
nà yì yǎn
That one look
那一眼
nà yì yǎn
That one look
